The Great Courses

A welcome and rewarding addition to your library can be found at www.thegreatcourses.com. You will find your appetite whetted as you review the 300 comprehensive courses in subjects such as: A History of European Art, Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, The Joy of Mathematics, Change and Motion: Calculus Made Clear, 2nd Edition, How to Listen and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition, The Story of Human Language, The History of Ancient Egypt, Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, 2nd Edition, Understanding the Brain, Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality, 2nd Edition, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, The Dark Side of the Universe, Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writer's Craft, The Story of Human Language, The Life and Writings of C.S.Lewis, Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History, Philosophy and Intellectual History, Religion, Economics, etc. Each of the courses goes on sale at least once a year. The savings are at least 70%. With each course, you receive a Course Guidebook with an in-depth outline, bibliography, and course summary prepared by the professor. Out of the nearly 500,000 college professors in America, the top 1% are chosen to lecture in each series here based on teaching awards, published evaluations of professors, newspaper write-ups of the best teachers on campus, and other sources. When on sale, the typical course on compact disc is $49.95 for 12
CDs, or 12 hours of content. That's only $4.16 per CD.There are no grades, just lectures.



I will take a little time to describe some of my favorites:
In Understanding the Brain, we find out how this small mass of tissue can literally be our source of our
personalities, dreams, thoughts, sensations, utterances, and movements. In this 36-lecture course, you study: the historical underpinnings of Neuroscience, the Central Nervous System-Gross Organization, the Central Nervous System-its Internal Organization, The Central Nervous System-Subdivisions, the Cortex-Lobes and Areas,
the Cortex-Sensory, Motor, and Association Areas, the Central Nervous System-Development, the Central Nervous System-Cellular Organization, Pathways and Synapses, Neurotransmitters, Stroke, The Visual System-the Eye, The Visual System-the Cortex, the Auditory System, the Somatosensory System, Agnosias, the Motor System-Voluntary Movement, the Motor System-Coordinated Movement, Parkinson's
Disease, Language, The Limbic System-Anatomy, The Limbic System-Biochemistry, Depression, The Reward System-Anatomy, The Reward System-Drugs, Brain Plasticity, Emotion and Executive Function, Processing of Negative Emotions-Fear, Music and the Brain, Sexual Dimorphism of the Brain, Sleep and Dreaming, Consciousness and the Self, Alzheimer's Disease, Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease, Wellness and the Brain-Effects of Stress, and Neuroscience-Looking Back and Looking Ahead. This course consists of 36 Lectures(30 Minutes/Lecture)-regularly $374.95-on sale for $84.95. Some amazing discoveries include: where fear is generated, which areas of the brain are involved in language, and where the deep chemistry of love is kindled.

The Biology and Human Behavior course teaches about the nervous system, how hormones affect behavior, how genes affect the brain, and how brains make us the way that
we are. That consists of 24 Lectures(30 Minutes/Lecture) that is regularly priced at $254.95 on sale for $59.95.

Dark Matter, Dark Energy: The Dark Side of the Universe sheds light on astronomy, particle physics or quantum physics and astrophysics. These consist of 24 Lectures
(30 Minutes/Lecture) that regularly costs $254.95 on sale for $59.95.

The Foundations of Western Civilization covers the period from about 3000 B.C. to
A.D. 1600. This consists of 48 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced for
$519.95 on sale for $109.95.

The History of the United States consists of 84 Lectures (30 Minute/Lecture) regularly priced at $749.95 on sale for $164.95.

The American Civil War consists of 48 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly
priced at $519.95 on sale for $109.95.

A Brief History of the World consists of 36 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture)
regularly priced at $374.95 on sale for $84.95.

World War II: A Military and Social History consists of 30 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced at $374.95 on sale for $84.95.

In order to examine life's most fundamental questions of individual responsibility,
morality, and personal freedom, hence the course: No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life. This studies visionary thinkers and the role that they play in contemporary thought. This includes 24 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced at $254.95 on sale for $59.95.

Consciousness and Its Implications gets to the heart of human identity. It consists of 12 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced at $199.95 on sale for $34.95.

America and the New Global Economy studies the economies of America along with Japan, India, China and other regions. This consists of 36 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced at $374.95 on sale for $84.95.

My absolute favorite course is Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning,
2nd Edition. To become a master at debate or polished salesman, this will teach one how to master both argument and reasoning. Critical thinking is the crux of it all. This consists of 24 Lectures (30 Minutes/Lecture) regularly priced at $254.95
on sale for $59.95.

These are Summer 2009 Featured Courses and the phone number for ordering is: 1-800-
TEACH-12 and FAX is 1-703-378-3819. The mailing address to the Great Courses is
The Teaching Company, 4840 Westfields Blvd, Suite 500, Chantilly, Va 20151-2299.